| The liberal Yabloko party said Saturday that it
would call for a no-confidence vote in the government of Prime Minister
Mikhail Kasyanov because of its failure to safeguard citizens and
its inability to carry out vital reforms.
Party leader Grigory
Yavlinsky likened the political calm in Russia following the
tumultuous years under former President Boris Yeltsin to the situation
of a frog sitting in a pot of water on a stove. At first it feels
nice and warm and comfortable, "but the process will continue,"
he told reporters.
"To change the government in time would mean a real chance
to prevent a crisis," Yavlinsky said in comments broadcast
on TVS television.
Government spokesmen reacted calmly, even dismissively, to the
announcement. Spokesman Alexei Gorshkov chalked it up to electioneering
before the December parliamentary vote.
"Unfortunately, Yabloko is declaring its readiness to participate
in drafting governmental programs and implement them only during
the electoral race," he was quoted as saying by Interfax.
Alexei Volin, the government's deputy head of staff, said that
with just 18 representatives in the 450-member State Duma, "Yabloko
can put any matter on the agenda, up to declaring war on America,"
Interfax reported.
Yabloko said in a statement that Kasyanov's government "is
incapable of ensuring the security of Russia and its citizens
or curbing crime," Interfax reported.
"It has derailed vital economic reforms, is pursuing antisocial
policies and protects large monopolies and oligarchic structures.
In effect, it has refused to implement military reform and proven
incapable of carrying out administrative reform [of the bureaucracy]."
In January, the Communist Party -- the most popular party in
Russia, according to opinion polls -- tried and failed to put
a no-confidence vote on the Duma's agenda. The Duma is dominated
by centrist parties that support President Vladimir Putin, and
as long as the Kremlin is satisfied with the government's performance
they are unlikely to disagree.
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